Android 6 connecting to standalone device

[swill453]

In my campervan I sometimes use a TP-LINK TL-WA730RE wifi extender to boost weak wifi signals. My procedure is as follows:

1) reset TP-LINK to factory settings
2) connect directly to it from my Android phone, having manually configured the phone to IP 192.168.0.1
3) go to the TP-LINK configuration page http://192.168.0.254
4) survey for wifi signals and connect to the one I want
5) reboot TP-LINK
6) connect phone to boosted wifi network

This all worked very well when my phone was on Android 5, but since I upgraded to Android 6, step 3) doesn't work any more. It seems that if the phone can't see the Internet via its wifi connection, it falls back to using the mobile network (indicated by an exclamation mark on the wifi status and an H,H+,G etc. on the mobile status). So it refuses to use the wifi network to connect to the device.

I tried switching off mobile data, but this doesn't seem to make it go back to using the wifi. I even tried removing the SIM card (and rebooting).

Nothing else has changed, in fact if I revert to using my partner's phone which is still on Android 5, the procedure works fine as above.

Does anyone know how I could force Android 6 to use a wifi network which isn't connected to the Internet?

Scott.

[genou]

Does anyone know how I could force Android 6 to use a wifi network which isn't connected to the Internet?

Scott.

Do you have Smart network switch enabled? ( Under Settings/WiFi/More ). I am on 6 and can connect to networks with no internet connection, although it does complain on first connection.

[swill453]

Do you have Smart network switch enabled? ( Under Settings/WiFi/More ).

I don't have that option. Moto G 2nd gen, Android 6.0

Scott.

[Slarti]

Turn mobile data off so it can't fall back to it.

[swill453]

Turn mobile data off so it can't fall back to it.

I've tried that, as I said in the OP. And even removed the SIM card. Still doesn't work.

Scott.

[genou]

So it refuses to use the wifi network to connect to the device.

Scott.

What happens if you force a re-scan for wireless networks and instruct it to connect?

[Slarti]

Turn mobile data off so it can't fall back to it.

I've tried that, as I said in the OP. And even removed the SIM card. Still doesn't work.

Scott.

Sorry I missed that.


OK, as I have a Moto G 2nd gen Android 6 and there is nobody else here I
1) turned wifi off on my phone
2) disconnected router from internet (cable out)
3) turned wifi back on, it connected and I was able to link to other stuff my side of the router
4) plugged cable in and the internet reappeared.

Not at all sure why yours wants the internet before it will connect.

Is there anything else connected to the router that it could talk to? I have PCs, TV, sound bar and Sky+ if that makes any difference.

[swill453]

OK, as I have a Moto G 2nd gen Android 6 and there is nobody else here I
1) turned wifi off on my phone
2) disconnected router from internet (cable out)
3) turned wifi back on, it connected and I was able to link to other stuff my side of the router

Thanks for you experimentation. When I get a chance I'll try the same to see if it's any different.

A slight difference to my original scenario is that the wifi extender doesn't do DHCP by default like the router, and I have to set a fixed IP. But it might be illuminating anyway.

Scott.